The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of three people at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in Ibadan, Oyo State, assuring that efforts are underway to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
The victims were reportedly abducted on Thursday, October 8, 2026, while carrying out crop inspection duties on a farm within the institute’s premises in Idi-Ayunre, Oluyole Local Government Area.
They were identified as Mrs Eunice Babalola, head of CRIN’s Central Nursery; Mr Kehinde Gbalajobi, an agricultural superintendent; and another man who resides in the institute’s senior staff quarters.
According to reports, the kidnappers contacted the victims’ families and demanded a ransom of ₦120 million for their release. The gunmen also reportedly attempted to abduct additional people at the institute’s Central Nursery but were repelled by security personnel following an exchange of gunfire.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command had launched a manhunt for the suspected kidnappers and commenced operations to secure the victims’ safe return.
The police urged members of the public with credible information that could assist the rescue operation to report to the nearest police station or contact the command through its emergency channels.
The latest incident has raised fresh concerns about security at the institute, following previous reported abductions involving workers and visitors earlier in the year.
